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Endangered Species - The Spider Monkey

The spider monkey gets its name from its long-limbed, spindly appearance. It is one of the rain forest's greatest acrobats, able to swing swiftly through the treetops without ever descending to the ground. These sociable, peaceful creatures face dangers from over-hunting and habitat destruction. As of 2011, nine subspecies of spider monkey are designated as endangered or vulnerable.

Habitat
- Spider monkeys live in South America, Central America and Mexico. They are found in the tropical rain forests at sea level, along the banks of the Amazon River and in the Andes Mountains. They live in the jungle canopy, seldom leaving the treetops where they find their food. They mostly eat fruit, consuming the seeds as well as the meat, and they supplement their diet with insects and birds' eggs.
Characteristics
- Spider monkeys call and screech to communicate.
  
  Coarse and thick spider monkey fur may be any color from light brown to black. Spider monkeys have long tails capable of gripping branches or food. They have no thumbs, but their hands are long and hooked. They are quite vocal and communicate with each other by screeching and barking. These calls, combined with facial expressions, allow spider monkeys to warn each other of predators, rally each other to food sources and locate each other in the forest.
Behavior
- Finding safety in numbers, spider monkeys live in groups of around 30 called troops. Males are dominant in individual relationships, but females control the group as a whole. Males follow a social hierarchy in which the oldest have the highest status. Spider monkeys try to intimidate threatening predators by yelling. If this fails, they run rather than fight. Females usually determine the foraging routes. The routes are planned in advance, and they are always within the established territory of the troop.
Endangered Status
- Logging has severely damaged the habitat of the spider monkey, limiting their range and food supply. They are also popular among humans as pets, and in some places, as food. They aren't hard to find due to their noise and the fact that they travel in such large bands. All these factors put them on the officially designated endangered list in 2008. As of June 2011, the Guiana spider monkey was listed as vulnerable. The white-bellied, black-faced, black, white-cheeked and woolly spider monkeys were considered endangered. The brown-headed, brown and Northern Muriqui spider monkeys were listed as critically endangered.

Animals & Science